Mallard: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Ducks, Geese and Grebes · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Mallard ducklings can swim the moment they hatch.
2. Female mallards quack loudly, often 2 to 10 times in a row. A male's quack is deeper and quieter.
3. With ducklings around, a female switches to a shortened quack that her young find highly attractive.
4. Listen as a mallard takes off: its wings make a characteristic faint whistling noise.
5. A mallard's iridescent purple-blue wing patch, the speculum, is temporarily shed during the annual summer moult.

The quiz

1. When can mallard ducklings swim?

• After a week
• After a month
• As soon as they hatch (correct)
• After their first moult

Ducklings can swim the moment they hatch.

2. How does a male mallard's quack differ from a female's?

• Deeper and quieter (correct)
• Higher and louder
• Longer and slower
• There is no difference

A male's quack is deeper and quieter than a female's.

3. What call does a mallard mother use around her ducklings?

• A long whistle
• A shortened quack (correct)
• A low growl
• A rising trill

She switches to a shortened quack that her young find highly attractive.

4. What sound do a mallard's wings make on take-off?

• A loud clapping
• A deep thud
• A buzzing
• A faint whistling (correct)

Its wings make a faint whistling noise on take-off.

5. What happens to the speculum during the summer moult?

• It is temporarily shed (correct)
• It turns bright red
• It doubles in size
• It stays unchanged

The speculum is temporarily shed during the annual summer moult.

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